On August 3, Shanghai Autoflight’s two-ton eVTOL aircraft Kairuiou took off from Shenzhen Dapeng carrying a full load of fresh fruits and emergency medicines. After a 58-minute cross-sea journey, it landed on the Huizhou 19-3 offshore oil platform, located 150 kilometers off the coast of Shenzhen. This marked the world’s first aerial delivery of supplies to an offshore oil platform—an unprecedented milestone in aviation logistics.
On 31 July, the Shenzhen Development and Reform Commission released the Shenzhen Low-Altitude Infrastructure High-Quality Development Plan (2024–2026) with the ambition of becoming a global leader in the low-altitude economy. The Plan outlines bold targets for the next two years: by 2026, the industry’s scale is projected to exceed €15.54 billion, with more than 1,200 low-altitude takeoff and landing points, over 1,000 commercial routes, and the world’s first Low-Altitude Intelligent Integration System (SILAS) in place. A trillion-yuan infrastructure race has officially begun along the South China Sea.
Shenzhen’s vision is not merely aspirational. The Plan outlines the construction of four major functional centers that will form the foundation of this emerging trillion-yuan industry. The global headquarters R&D center will anchor technological innovation through a “1+5+4” research network, including one large-scale research facility, five operational pilot zones, and four test sites. The city aims to focus on areas such as unmanned aerial systems, whole-aircraft manufacturing, and ground support equipment, fostering a generation of globally competitive enterprises. Shenzhen is targeting leadership in the number of “small giants” and specialized manufacturing champions.
To secure control over the entire industrial chain, Shenzhen will also establish ten low-altitude economy industrial parks and two specialized parks that cover R&D, production, and commercialization. The Plan calls for breakthroughs in key technologies including flight control algorithms, high-energy-density batteries, low-power chips, lightweight materials, and environmental sensing. These advances are expected to drive self-reliance across the full aircraft development cycle.
The city is also designing the low-altitude landscape of the future. By 2026, helicopters and eVTOLs are expected to serve more than 50% of the city’s built-up areas within a 1-kilometer radius. Aerial logistics will enable 2-hour intra-city and 4-hour inter-city delivery services for 70% of the population, while drones will deliver medical supplies to over half of tertiary hospitals and blood banks. Inspection drones will patrol every park, river, and reservoir in the city.
To export its model glo
The foundation of these ambitions lies in the citywide low-altitude infrastructure network. Shenzhen will construct two general aviation airports, upgrade existing helicopter pads for eVTOL compatibility, and build 174 new landing sites across business districts, CBDs, hospitals, tourist destinations, and transport hubs—bringing the total to 283. These sites will be linked to support scenarios such as passenger transport, aerial tourism, and emergency services. The Longhua Zhangkengjing Heliport will be operational by the end of 2026, while the relocation of Nantou Airport and planning of the Shenzhen-Shanwei General Aviation Airport are underway. The latter aims to secure a permanent site by 2026, completing a dual-airport framework.
The logistics network will expand even faster. Shenzhen plans to add 159 new logistics-specific landing sites, bringing the total to 205 and integrating them into the city’s three-tier “7+30+N” logistics hub system. An additional 339 community delivery sites will be prioritized around hospitals, commercial areas, community centers, and universities. Another 340 drone landing points will be deployed for urban governance scenarios such as policing, emergency rescue, and disaster response, with shared use of infrastructure to avoid duplication.
The city is also reinforcing its technological base. The first phase of SILAS will be operational by 2026, functioning as the command center for all low-altitude activities. Integrated with 5G, 5G-A sensing, a 1.4GHz private network, and satellite communications, Shenzhen will build a seamless air-ground-sea communication system. Weather monitoring accuracy will reach 100-meter precision, offering real-time warnings for flight safety. A three-dimensional wind tunnel will be completed by 2025 to support airworthiness certification of eVTOLs and next-generation aircraft.
Despite its clear momentum, Shenzhen faces several major challenges. Reform of airspace resources has entered a critical stage. By 2026, the city aims to make more than 75% of its low-altitude airspace—below 120 meters—available for drone operations. Closer coordination with military and civil aviation authorities will be required to establish a unified low-altitude airspace management mechanism in the region.
Another pressing challenge is funding. According to Li Xi, Vice General Manager of Shenzhen Urban Transportation Planning and Design Research Center Co., Ltd., government guidance is essential for low-altitude infrastructure development. “This is a capital-intensive industry,” Li noted. “Whether it’s helicopters, eVTOLs, or drones, none can operate without systemic infrastructure. With over a thousand projects in progress, private capital alone cannot sustain the effort. Shenzhen must create a financing system combining government subsidies and policy guidance.” The city plans to expand its funding sources with a focus on attracting social capital and exploring mechanisms such as special bonds, REITs, and industrial investment funds.
Finally, the regulatory framework urgently needs improvement. Shenzhen will introduce some measures for the construction of drone landing facilities and supporting facilities and establish an institution for drone inspection, testing, and airworthiness certification. The goal is to improve research capabilities and accelerate the standardization of airworthiness certification for emerging aircraft. Shenzhen also plans to develop local regulations that could serve as the basis for broader industry and national standards.
Source: SZ Gov, Autoflight, CCTV, GZ CMC
